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Officer charged with using excessive force during arrest at Heinz Field

A Pittsburgh police sergeant is charged for an arrest he made during the WPIAL championship at Heinz Field while he was working as an uniformed off-duty secondary employment detail.

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Updated: 11:19 PM EST Dec 18, 2015

Officer charged with using excessive force during arrest at Heinz Field

A Pittsburgh police sergeant is charged for an arrest he made during the WPIAL championship at Heinz Field while he was working as an uniformed off-duty secondary employment detail.

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Updated: 11:19 PM EST Dec 18, 2015

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WEBVTT PURGEES WAS A PITTSBURGH POLICE OFFICER WHO NOW FACES CHARGE. THERE WERE MANY HARD HITTING HIGHLIGHTS CAPTURED HERE, DURING THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES ON NOVEMBER 28. BUT POLICE SAY BECAUSE OF OTHER VIDEO RECORDED BY THE STADIUM'S SECURITY CAMERA THAT DAY OFF THE FIELD, A PITTSBURGH POLICE SERGEANT IS FACING SERIOUS CHARGES. ACCORDING TO A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT, POLICE SAY THIS MAN, STEVEN MAT ACOFFEISH, WAS IN THE PROCESS OF ARRESTING A PERSON FOR INTOXICATION. BUT HE SAID HE LUNGED TOWARD ME AND THEN I DELIVERED A RIGHT CROSS, CLOSE FISTED PUNCH TO HIS FACE, KNOCKING ON THE HIM ON THE GROUND. AND DUPREE CAME BACK TOWARD ME AND I FOLLOWED WITH FOUR PALM HEEL STRIKES TO HIS TORSO AND FACE. THE OFFICERS SAID DUPREE PUNCHED ME IN THE CHEST, PULLING ME ON TOP OF HIM, BEFORE MATAKOVICH COULD CUFF THE TEEN. THE TEEN STANDING WITH HIS HAND IN HIS FRONT PANT POCK FELT A NONAGGRESSIVE NONTHREATENING STANCE. THAT'S WHEN THEY SAY MATAKOVICH SHOVED HIM, KNOCKING HIM TO THE GROUND AND THEN DELIVERED A BARRAGE OF STRIKES TO THE HEAD REGION BEFORE PLACING HIM UNDER ARREST. THE COMPLAINT SAYS MATAKOVICH' USE OF FORCE WAS EXCESSIVE AND HE'S ON LEAVE TONIGHT, FACING CHARGES.

Officer charged with using excessive force during arrest at Heinz Field

A Pittsburgh police sergeant is charged for an arrest he made during the WPIAL championship at Heinz Field while he was working as an uniformed off-duty secondary employment detail.